Masonic Year

MW Eugenio S. Labitoria, Chairman of the 5th Division of the Court of Appeals, a Valedictorian in 1954 from the then Bambang High School now Nueva Vizcaya State Polytechnic College at Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya, obtained his Associate in Arts from the Lyceum of the Philippines and Bachelor of Laws degree from San Beda College of Law in 1960 and passed the BAR Examination that same year with a rating of 83.9%. He was the Book Review Editor of the Law Journal of the San Beda College of Law during his fourth year Law Proper. Justice Eugenio S. Labitoria has served the government for thirty two (32) years, (1) as a special attorney of the COMELEC for one (1) year, (2) as Municipal Judge for twelve (12) years; (3) RTC Judge for eleven (11) years; and (4) now eight (8) years in the Court of Appeals. In 1961 immediately after passing the BAR, he was Special Attorney during the presidential election and was assigned as Special Attorney at Surigao City, Surigao del Norte by the COMELEC. Justice Eugenio S. Labitoria from 1962 up to 1971 was one of the leading law practitioners for the province of Nueva Vizcaya until he was appointed Municipal Judge of Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya on September 1, 1971. He was promoted Regional Trial Court Judge, Branch 31, on June 6, 1983 at Cobarroguis, Quirino. He was detailed Executive RTC Judge, (1) Branch 21, Santiago City, Isabela (1984); (2) Presiding Judge, Branches 11 and 14, Malolos, Bulacan (1984 and 1987), respectively; (3) Presiding Judge RTC, Branch 55, Macabebe, Pampanga (1986); (4) Presiding and Executive Judge, RTC Branch 79, Morong, Rizal (1987-1988); and (5) Presiding and Second Executive RTC Judge, Pasig City, Branches 161 and 165 (1989-1994). He was appointed on March 22, 1994 as Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals. He is now the Chairman of the 5th Division. As of February 28, 2002, his case load is only 42 pending for decision. His records show that he had been constant in disposing and reducing the cases assigned to him since the time he was appointed to the Judiciary. Justice Eugenio S. Labitoria was the Philippine official (a) delegate to the 12th appellate Judges Seminar Series sponsored by Appellate Judges of America and the American Bar Association from July 22-25, 1996 at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, U.S.A.; (b) Philippine official delegate, 8th International Anti-Corruption Conference, Beijing, China, October 6-10, 1995; (c) Philippine official delegate World Jurist Association 19th Biennial Conference, Budapest Hungary and Vienna, Austria (Oct. 7-10, 1999) and the World Jurist Association 20th Biennial Conference Dublin-Belfast, Ireland (September 30 – October 4, 2001). Among some of his many awards are: (1) Outstanding RTC Judge of Region 2 (1985); (1) Nominated twice as Outstanding Judge of RTC Pasig (1992-1993); (3) Outstanding alumnus, Bambang High School now Nueva Vizcaya State Polytechnic College (1995); (4) Most outstanding Nueva Vizcayano in the field of law and jurisprudence, being the First Nueva Vizcayano to reach the Court of appeals, during the 158 Founding Anniversary of Nueva Vizcaya on May 24, 1997. He is an active member of the Masonic fraternity and the Lions Club both non religious, non political and non profit organizations but both charitable organizations. Previously, in 1996, he was the Grand Royal Patron of the Grand Court of the Philippines, International Order of the Amaranth, Inc. Together with his wife Juliet, who was then the Grand Royal Matron of the Order of the Amaranth, Inc., they attended the 100th Annual Supreme Session of the International Order of the Amaranth, Inc. in Hersey, Pensylvania in 1996. He was raised to the sublime degree of master Mason on February 18, 1969 in Magat Lodge No. 68. He became an MRS in Cagayan Valley Bodies A. & A. S. R. in June 1969; was conferred the Rank and Decoration of KCCH on February 2, 1979, coroneted IGH on February 12, 1982 and was crowned Active Member (SGIG) of the Supreme Council, 33° on March 9, 1999. He is presently Grand Chancellor of the Supreme Council, 33° . Justice Eugenio S. Labitoria is at present a professor of Law teaching Legal Ethics at Far Eastern University. Also taught at Pamantasan Ng Lunsod Ng Maynila (PLM) from 1995 and 1996, respectively. He was born on December 13, 1935 in San Fernando, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya of the spouses Mariano Labitoria Y. Valdez of Panaga, Manaoag, Pangasinan and Catalina Salango y Narboneta of Tara-tara, Sison, Pangasinan. He is married to Dr. Juliet Falguera of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya with whom he has one daughter Jeannette, a Mascom graduate of Miriam College, Quezon City, who is married to Leonard S. Agpaoa. They are blessed with five (5) children, Natasha, Jeanette, Eugene, James and Antonette.